Evans set to be named as new Leeds United head coach

Steve Evans.

Published:13:06Monday 19 October 2015

Steve Evans is set to be confirmed as Leeds United’s sixth head coach since Massimo Cellino took over as owner following the sacking of Uwe Rosler.

Rosler lasted more than Dave Hockaday and Darko Milanic last year, but his 12-game reign at Elland Road ended following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton and he goes having never tasted victory at Elland Road.

The 46-year-old, who took charge as head coach in May, will be replaced by Evans less than a month after Evans left his previous job as manager of Rotherham United.

Evans was taking training at Thorp Arch this morning and club owner Cellino has confirmed to a national newspaper that the Scot is to be named as Rosler’s replacement.

Rosler’s assistant Rob Kelly and first-team coach Julian Darby are also believed to have left the club.

Cellino had given Rosler strong backing recently, saying: “This coach is the best person for me and for the team.

“He’s the coach I was looking for when 20, 30 people asked me to give them the job in May. I chose him and if you gave me the choice I would choose him again.

“If someone gave me the chance to change, I would take this coach and these players because we have something good here.

“This guy (Rosler), he is professional. I like him more than any coach I had here before.”

But successive defeats to Birmingham and top of the table Brighton at home have made the owner change his mind and he has acted swiftly in going for Evans, who has several promotions to his name with previous clubs Rotherham and Crawley and was known to be ambitious to take on the job at a bigger club.

Evans, 52, has been out of work for three weeks after parting company with Rotherham on September 28 so was immediately available for the United job.